|
November 22 2007 - Heaven and Hell
|
I don't know Flexi; I appear to be lurching from one crisis to another of late. The aftermath of the fire resulted in several of the long-termers deciding to move on. Wherever people are gathered together, politics will always rear it's ugly head. Ideas, opinions differ, people take sides, form their own little cliques of like minded people, communication and co-operation fly out of the window, and war is inevitably declared. Even here, in the Garden of Eden. But then the original Garden of Eden only became fucked up (pun intended) when Adam and Eve rocked up. It's us you see, human beings; we don't seem to have a clue how to live together in anything approaching harmony, or at least, not for very long periods. Living here is without question, the most fascinating experience of my life! I live in a microcosm of society. And much as I wish to pursue my reaction to, and my role in, that society, it will have to be at a later date sunshine; right now I am without the mental energy required for such an intellectual undertaking. I am, once again, completely depleted, but is that because I am a breath away from the clutches of the 'Grim Reaper', or, because I live in an extremely hot climate, to which I am unsuited, walk several miles a day in the fierce heat of the sun, lose my appetite so eat very little, even decline the grape!!!!!!! And am approaching the end of my 64th year? Yes, I know I've asked myself this question many times before and always accepted the latter explanation as being the sensible way to look at it, but of late, it feels that my tiredness is somehow different; or perhaps it's simply that it's more persistent. Forgive me for banging on about my tiredness yet AGAIN Flex; I mentioned it because it affects my ability to write effectively which I find tiresome to say the very least, and yet it also gives me enormous pleasure: (writing I mean, not tiredness) I have another world at my disposal, and it's very different to my monkey world. Okay, Flex, I'll come clean. I have to leave the country soon because my visa expires and I can't renew it here. I intended to apply for a 3-year visa, which requires among other things a police report regarding the applicant. There are slight complications in that area Flex, (I won't go into details, suffice to say it was very good stuff) so a visit to Botswana or Swaziland may be on the cards. My feelings about being away from the Sanctuary are making me a bit weepy; I'm having SUCH a good time with the babies, I don't want to miss a minute of their development, and this year's babies are the rummest lot you could ever wish to meet. I say babies; they're approaching a year now, but they're still big babies, and every-one of them is a complete individual, and watching their relationships, how they handle situations, who their mates are, what they need and how they achieve it is an extraordinary experience. We have one little guy, and I mean little, who was the last baby to come in. Although the same age as the other monkeys in his enclosure, he was half the size and looked like he'd stepped out of a Walt Disney cartoon. He looked like a hamster on speed with a punk hair-do. His fur was the texture of matted candy floss (although it was neither pink, nor sugary) his elbows and knees showing the pale skin his coat had failed to cover. He ate constantly, had very little time for human beings and possessed outstanding charisma. As one, we all fell in love with him, his charm and vulnerability, courage and individuality combined to make him irresistible. But he didn't come to humans, he kept himself very much to himself and continued to eat for Africa. I found it impossible to look at him without laughing. If they made a monkey version of Oliver, Charger would steal the show as the Artful Dodger. The reason he was so small and despite eating so much never seemed to gain an ounce was because he arrived as a very poorly little person, with stomach and digestive problems. As volunteers we all longed to make contact with him, his independence and swagger unable to conceal his vulnerability. He had a very high-pitched voice and didn't hesitate to use it to signal distress if the fruit and rice crispies weren't constantly available. When the day came when he hopped onto my lap, fell asleep and let me cup my arm around his tiny body as he did so, the feeling I experienced is indescribable. The same thing happened with other vols, and we would gather around tent village table and discuss our progress with Charger in awed, hushed voices, wearing beaming smiles, knowing that the experience would stay with us all as one of the high points of our lives. And he's SO funny... I'm also totally under the spell of Aduancy who I've been doing one to one with for some weeks now. He's about two and a half, with one of the most beautiful natures I've entered encountered. I've often thought, if you were still around, that boy wouldn't stand a chance! So you can see Flex, being away from the guys, ain't gonna be easy... I miss you every day my darling; how you changed my life, you little monkey you! And how I love you, x
|
|
